Magneto-optical switching device and method for switching a magnetizable medium

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a magneto-optical switching device for switching magnetization in a medium, comprising a magnetizable medium. According to the invention, a radiation system suited for imparting angular momentum to the magnetic spin system of said magnetizable medium, so as to selectively orient the magnetization of said medium. In addition, the invention relates to a method of switching a magnetizable medium, comprising providing a magnetizable medium; providing a radiation beam of a selectively chosen angular momentum; and targeting said radiation beam to said medium so as to transfer said angular momentum to a magnetic spin system of said magnetizable medium. Accordingly, spin states in magnetic materials can be manipulated using radiation of a suitable angular momentum. An effective magnetic field is generated for orienting the magnetization of the domains and can simultaneously be used to locally heat the material.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a magneto-optical switching device forswitching magnetization in a medium, in particular, for informationrecording purposes. In addition, the invention relates to a method ofswitching a magnetizable medium.

BACKGROUND

In magnetic and magneto-optical switching devices, in particular, usedfor recording purposes, information bits are stored as oppositelyoriented magnetic domains representing the values “0” and “1”respectively. The conventional way of switching spins or magneticdomains is to apply an external magnetic field along the direction ofspins, opposite to their initial orientation. This is a rather slowreversal process. Alternatively the external field can be appliedperpendicular and not parallel to the spin orientation. This willtrigger a much faster reversal process via a precessional motion of thespins around the external applied field. A plurality of magnetic andmagneto-optical recording devices is being currently manufactured usingsuch principles for reversing magnetization and thereby write andre-write the information.

A new type of such magnetic recording devices designed to achieveultra-high data storage densities, is the so called heat assistedmagnetic recording (HAMR). Here a high anisotropy magnetic medium isheated by a laser beam such that the external applied field can still beefficient in reversing the magnetization. However, this approach doesnot simplify the magnetic recording process but instead involves moreelements leading to high manufacturing costs of the magnetic devices aswell as higher power consumption. Furthermore, by I. Tudosa et all.,Nature 428, 831 (2004) and C. H. Back et al., Nature 428, 808 (2004) ithas been demonstrated that the ultimate speed of magnetic switchingtriggered by a magnetic field is bounded in the picosecond time scale.Since the demand for ever increasing the density of data storagerequires increasing of the magnetization switching speed too, new andfaster ways of switching the magnetization other than by magnetic fieldsare desirable. Incorporated by reference, in Kimel et al. “Ultrafastnon-thermal control of magnetization by instantaneous photomagneticpulses”, Nature Letters, Published online 25 May 2006, further referredto as “Nature Letters article” non-thermal excitation was demonstratedfor dielectric materials. Also incorporated by reference, in Hansteen etal. “Femtosecond photomagnetic switching of spins in FerrimagneticGarnet Films”, Physical Review Letters, 047402 (2005), further referredto as the PRL article, small angle magnetization precessions weredemonstrated to have been successfully controlled. The materials inwhich optically induced effects were demonstrated are insulatingmaterials.

SUMMARY

It is desirable to provide a magneto-optical switching device forswitching magnetization in a medium, wherein fast and reliable switchingis possible. To this end, according to an aspect of the invention, thereis provided a magneto-optical switching device for switchingmagnetization in a medium according to the features of claim 1. Inparticular, there is provided: a magneto-optical switching device forswitching magnetization in a medium, comprising: a magnetizable medium;and a radiation system suited for imparting angular momentum to themagnetic spin system of said magnetizable medium, so as to selectivelyorient the magnetization of said medium.

Accordingly, spin states in magnetic materials can be manipulated usingradiation of a suitable angular momentum, in particular, circularly orelliptically polarized light.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a methodaccording to claim 15. In particular, there is provided a method ofswitching a magnetizable medium, comprising: providing a magnetizablemedium; providing a radiation beam of a selectively chosen angularmomentum; and targeting said radiation beam to said medium so as totransfer said angular momentum to a magnetic spin system of saidmagnetizable medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of exampleonly, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in whichcorresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, and inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a qualitative representation of the temperature dependenceof the a) magnetization and b) magnetic susceptibility of anillustrative substrate sample;

FIG. 2 shows an image of magnetic domains observed via Faraday Effectand captured by a CCD camera;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of the experimental setup;

FIG. 4 shows results for laser fluence dependence on two samples ofopposite magnetic states;

FIG. 5 shows spot images of a left handed and a right handed laser beamhelicity; and

FIG. 6 shows spot images of a single laser pulse created by fastsweeping of the laser beam over the substrate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The interaction of light with magnetized media is manifested in variousmagneto-optical phenomena. A good example is the Faraday effect,observed as a rotation of the polarization plane of light transmittedthrough a magnetic medium:

$\begin{matrix}{\alpha_{F} = {\frac{\chi}{n}{M \cdot k}}} & {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 1}\end{matrix}$

where α_(F) is the specific Faraday rotation, M is the magnetization, nis the refractive index, k is the wave vector of light, and χ is themagneto-optical susceptibility, which is a scalar value in isotropicmedia. Various devices, such as magneto-optical isolators andmodulators, make use of large values of Faraday rotation in transparentmagnetic compounds.

Less known is the inverse Faraday effect, where high intensity laserradiation acts on a medium as a magnetic field and induces a staticmagnetization M(0):

$\begin{matrix}{{M(0)} = {\frac{\chi}{{16\;\pi}\;}\left\lbrack {{E(\omega)} \times {E^{*}(\omega)}} \right\rbrack}} & {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 2}\end{matrix}$

where E(ω) and E*(ω) are the electric field of the light wave and itscomplex conjugate, respectively. It follows from equation (2) thatcircularly polarized light at frequency ω should induce a magnetizationalong the wave vector k. Note that symmetry considerations of equation(2) indicate equivalence between photo-excitation by circularlypolarized light and action of an external magnetic field. Moreover,right- and left-handed circularly polarized waves induce magnetizationsof opposite sign. Equations (1) and (2) show that both these phenomenaare determined by the same magneto-optical susceptibility χ. Inparticular, in the case of the inverse Faraday effect, χ is the ratiobetween the induced magnetization and the laser intensity. Therefore,optical control of magnetization is expected to be most efficient inmaterials with high values of the Faraday rotation per unitmagnetization. Another important property of the susceptibility χ isthat it has no symmetry restrictions and is thus allowed in all media,regardless of their crystallographic and magnetic structures. Moreover,the inverse Faraday effect does not require absorption, and is believedto be based on a Raman-like coherent optical scattering process. Thishas the important consequence that the effect of light on themagnetization is non-thermal and can be considered as instantaneousbecause it appears to take place on a femtosecond timescale. Recenttheoretical work has indicated the possibility of laser-induced spinreversal on a femtosecond timescale. However, the experimentaldemonstration of such non-thermal ultrafast optical control ofmagnetization has remained an intriguing challenge until now.

According to an aspect of the invention angular momentum is imparted bya radiation system, to the magnetic spin system of said magnetizabledomains, so as to orient the magnetization thereof. In particular,circularly or elliptically polarized light is used to control and/or toswitch the magnetization in magnetic materials, such as used inmagneto-optical devices or in thermally assisted magnetic random accessmemory (MRAM). More specifically, left-handed circularly-polarized lightoriented the spins of the magnetic system in one direction whereasright-handed circularly-polarized light oriented the spins in theopposite direction. As the invention is understood, an effectivemagnetic field is generated for orienting the magnetization of thedomains and can but not necessarily has to simultaneously be used tolocally heat the material. This process is shown to be fundamentallydifferent from the orientation according to external magnetic fields andis shown to be intrinsically very fast and of an optical nature.Moreover, since no external field is required this process is simplifiedwith consequences on the manufacturing costs.

In FIG. 1 a qualitative representation of the temperature dependence isshown of the a) magnetization and b) magnetic susceptibility in anillustrative substrate sample, above room temperature. As is well known,the magnetization M in a material is proportional with the effectivefield acting on it:M=χ _(M) ·H

and depends on the magnetic susceptibility of the material χ_(M). AtCurie temperature (T_(C))χ_(M) diverges [FIG. 1 (b)]. Thus, the magneticfield required to control the magnetization has its minimum near theCurie temperature and a relatively low magnetic field may be stillhigher than the coercive field of the material. Thus, the magnetic fieldinduced by the helicity of the laser beam can orient the magnetizationof the material preferably most effectively near the Curie temperature.

Turning to FIG. 2, a recording track 1 of magnetic domains 2 are shown,observed via Faraday effect using a conventional optical microscopescheme. The black region 3 represents magnetic domain 2 withmagnetization oriented in one direction perpendicular on the samplewhich we shall name “down”. Consequently the white regions 4 representmagnetic domains 2 orientated in the opposite direction, “up”. Theinitial state of the sample had magnetization “down” oriented (black).The domains 2 where created by sweeping the laser beam over the sampleand changing alternatively the circularity of light between the rightand left-handed circularly polarized light. Therefore one type ofcircularly polarized laser pulses are creating up domains, reversing theinitial state of the sample, while the opposite circularly polarizedlaser pulses try to orient the magnetization in the same direction asthe initial state therefore living the initial state unchanged. Therepetition rate of the helicity of the laser beam was chosen inconjunction with the scanning velocity of the beam relative to thesample, so that the spots were written partially overlapping, resultingin neighbouring black and white semi-circles. The experiment wasperformed at room temperature and the laser fluence used was of about 5mJ/cm^2. However the experiment can be reproduced at any temperaturedepending on the magnetic material properties. Moreover the materialproperties define also the laser fluence required for an effectivemanipulation of the magnetization.

During a sweep, the polarization state of the laser beam was alternatedbetween right and left helicity using a quarter wave plate 13 asillustrated in FIG. 3. Keeping the sweeping speed relatively constant,an average intensity of the laser and corresponding thermal load is keptsubstantially constant. Here, the width of the recording track 1 dependson a combination of the laser beam spot size, a laser beam profile, aswell as the pulse width and intensity. In practical embodiments, thetarget temperature for magnetic switching may be tuned optimally by acombination of scanning velocity, intensity, wavelength and thermalabsorber materials may be arranged in the substrate to provide a targettemperature for magnetic switching, as well as tuning absorptionproperties, heat conduction, optomagnetic response, in particular, Curietemperature, of the target material.

The impact of laser pulses with the magnetic materials has a heatingeffect on the material which in turn leads to a decrease of themagneto-crystalline anisotropy of the material. This effect is used inconventional magnetic and magneto-optical recording as well as in therecently developed HAMR scheme, to decrease the coercivity of the samplesuch that small external magnetic fields can change the state of themagnetization in the material of interest. On the other hand, as it isdemonstrated here, if the laser pulse is also circularly polarized,light, besides the heating effect, or, in cases with no or littleabsorption, even without the heating effect, also orients the spins inthe material. Such demonstration may be advantageous not only forsimplification of spin manipulation processes but also for the speed ofthese processes. More specifically, since the magnetization or spinorientation depends on the light helicity the orientation of the angularmomentum of the photons affect the magnetic system only while the laserpulse is present in material. Therefore the initiation of thereorientation process take place on the femtosecond time scale.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of an experimental setup. Inparticular, an initial state of a sample 5 was prepared by use of anelectromagnet 6. In the typical case, due to the strong anisotropy ofthe sample, only up or down domains are allowed to be created. Usinglight from a light source 7 and a polarizer 8, through the conventionalFaraday rotation, the domain states can be analyzed via an objective 9and a polarizing analyzer 10 to a CCD-camera 11.

To control and switch the magnetization in sample 5, a pulsed laserbeam, delivering femtosecond laser pulses from an amplified Ti:Sapphirelaser system 12 is directed to the sample 5 at a 1 kHz repetition rate.The experiment was performed at room temperature and the magnetic systemwas excited using 40 fs laser pulses at 800 nm wavelength. A quarterwave plate 13 was used to manipulate the polarization of the laserpulses. The laser beam is near normal incidence on the sample 5. Theeffect of the interaction of the laser pulses with the magnetic systemwas observed via Faraday effect using a conventional optical microscopescheme.

FIG. 4 shows results for laser fluence dependence on two cases ofopposite magnetic states (M⁺ and M⁻), in particular, shows switching forthe two opposite circular helicities (σ+ and σ−) on the down orientedinitial magnetic state (first two rows) and on the up oriented initialmagnetic state (last two rows). In these experiments the initialmagnetic state of the sample was prepared by applying a temporarilystatic magnetic field to create a single magnetic state.

Next, the sample was excited by the laser beam and after closing thelaser beam a picture has been acquired. In FIG. 4 it can be observe thatas expected indeed for certain values of the laser beam fluence (2.9mJ/cm2) one can observe a clean switching for one helicity of light(first row) whereas nothing is happen for the opposite helicity (secondrow).

Symmetrically, for the opposite initial magnetic state, the helicitywhich previous succeeded to switch magnetization in the sample (in firstrow) does not affect now the magnetic state (third row) whereas theopposite helicity now is able to induce a clean switched area (forthrow).

It is shown that for high fluences a part of the laser beam profileelevates the local temperature of the sample above Curie temperature,leaving behind a demagnetized state of the sample. However, since thelaser beam profile is a Gaussian profile one should expect that theregion at the edge of the laser beam induces just the right temperaturein the sample required for a clean laser induced switching. It followsfrom here that certain laser fluences indeed should induce a totalswitching without leaving behind demagnetizing state after switching offthe laser beam. In effect, ideally, for clean switching, the centre ofthe beam is kept below Curie temperature, in order not to generate ademagnetised state. Although switching at higher temperatures may befeasible, it is expected that for high speed writing purposes suchhigher temperatures are less advantageous, since, after the informationof the beam has left, the temperature of the region is still too high tokeep the magnetization state. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the radiation system is arranged to impart a thermalenergy that is kept below Curie temperature of the magnetizable domains.

Even more so, with a temperature lowered below Curie temperature, ademagnetizing field may also reorient the areas, so that writteninformation is lost. this is shown in FIG. 4 for higher laser fluences(higher than 2.9 mJ/cm^2 in this particular embodiment). Thus, switchingmay occur according to the demagnetizing field when a spot isoverheated. Accordingly, preferably, the radiation system is arranged toimpart a thermal energy that is substantially low so that a magneticcoercitiviy of the magnetic domains is higher than a demagnetizing fieldof surrounding magnetic domains.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, in another embodiment of the invention, thecentre of the beam may reach a point higher than Curie temperature, andrecording information may (only) be persistently stored in an annulusaround the centre of the beam, where a beam fluence is so that theinverse Faraday magnetic field is higher than the coercive fieldstrength and that, at least in the annulus, an imparted thermal energyin the annulus is kept below Curie temperature of the magnetizabledomains. Indeed, in FIG. 5 (a), the grey center area 14 in the middle ofeach spot 15 indicates partially a paramagnetic state with no magneticcontrast due to the heating by light, and partially the multidomainstate after averaging over many pulses. On the outside of the spot,however, there is a clear semi-circle 16 of the reversed magnetizationthat depends on the light helicity. Thus, a σ⁺(σ⁻) beam makes a white(black) line between the grey spot and black (white) domain.

FIG. 6 shows spot images of a single laser pulse created by fastsweeping of the laser beam over the substrate. Accordingly, it isdemonstrated that the time-scale wherein the magnetization occurs liesat least within several tens of femtoseconds, in particular, less than40 femtoseconds. Accordingly, ultrafast recording in the orders ofmagnitude of THz writing may be feasible using the current techniques ofthe invention.

The substrate material with which the experiment was performed comprisesa metallic rare earth—transition metal alloy, in particular, thesubstrate comprised a typical composition of a thin film layer ofGd22Fe74.6Co3.4 having Curie temperature of about 500K. The samples weregrown by magnetron sputtering, usually in a multilayer structure:glass/AlTi (10 nm)/SiN (5 nm)/GdFeCo (20 nm)/SiN (60 nm). The AlTi isused as a heat sink, while the SiN is used as a buffer and cappinglayer. The saturation magnetization of these samples was around 4πm=1000 G around room temperature.

When demagnetized in the vicinity of the Curie point as illustrated inFIG. 1, the susceptibility of the system diverges, and therefore, asdemonstrated, a weak external stimulus such as the inverse Faradayeffect can drive the magnetization into a certain state. It wasdemonstrated previously, that the inverse Faraday effect can lead to avery high effective field, which may expand the effective temperaturerange of this application. In addition to this, it may also be desirableand possible to tune the properties of the substrate, in order to lowerthe coercive field near Curie temperature, so that a wider range oftemperatures may be used, and specifically, so that the laser fluencemay be tuned more easily to approach the condition required to switchthe magnetization. The Curie temperature may be tuned by varying thechemical composition or growth parameters so that less laser fluence isrequired for switching. In one embodiment, such may be done with aferrimagnetic alloy. Another parameter of interest of the system is thedemagnetizing field. In order to keep the magnetization reorientationinduced by light in a wider range of temperature, also the demagnetizingfield should be tuned such that its value will be below the coercivefield value in the desired temperature range.

As the invention is understood, switching occurs because of twocooperating effects of the laser pulse. For metallic media, first, partof the pulse energy is absorbed by the electrons in the metal. Thisprocess leads, via the Stoner spin-scattering mechanism, to an ultrafastincrease of the spin temperature. As a consequence, the temperature ofthe magnetic system can be drastically increased within tens offemtoseconds.

This also leads to the increase of the effective magnetic susceptibilityof such system.

Second, a circularly polarized laser pulse acts on spins via spin-orbitcoupling as an effective magnetic field, the effect known as the inverseFaraday effect. The amplitude of this field is proportional to themagneto-optical constants which, in first approximation, do not dependon temperature.

Thus, phenomenologically, the whole effect is the heating of themagnetic system plus the application of the effective magnetic field viathe inverse Faraday effect. Because of the diverging magneticsusceptibility in the vicinity of the Curie Temperature, the switchingis very efficient.

The pulse length of 40 fs implies that the whole switching isinitialized within this time frame. Indeed, the inverse Faraday effectmay considered to be instantaneous because it is based on a coherentscattering process. Therefore, the driving force should disappeartogether with the pulse.

The skilled artisan will appreciate that, in the context of thisdescription, any use of the terms “substrate” “medium” or “material”,depending on context, references the magnetizable substance to which thelaser light is targeted in order to create an inverse Faraday effectthere within for magnetic writing purposes. However, these substrates,in addition, may comprise a range of supporting layers that serve tostabilize, and tune the magnetic material for practical purposes.Although it is assumed that the magnetic material is deposited as alayer on top of a base substrate, other embodiments may be feasible. Inaddition, it may not be necessary to have the magnetic material referredto herein as a top layer.

The terms “radiation” and “beam” used herein may encompass all types ofsuitable electromagnetic radiation, including infrared or ultravioletradiation.

In the application, the term “switching” refers to selectively orientingmagnetization in a medium. In particular, the magnetization may beoriented between one state and another state, in particular, forswitching between magnetization states. Also, the magnetization may beswitched temporarily from a base state to a temporary state, dependingon application purposes.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described above,it will be appreciated that the invention may be practiced otherwisethan as described. In particular, while the embodiments focus onmagnetic recording applications, the invention is not limited thereto.The radiation induced magnetization as described hereabove state canalso be used to realize an optical switch such as a Faraday rotator forlaser applications. In addition, such laser induced magnetizationswitching can be used to manipulate optical signals in signal processingapplications, for example for optical communication purposes. Inparticular, these types of applications can be achieved usingtransparent dielectric type of magnetic materials, for example, such asdescribed in the Nature Letters article or the PRL article, but notlimited to those. The descriptions above are intended to beillustrative, not limiting. Thus, it will be apparent to one skilled inthe art that modifications may be made to the invention as describedwithout departing from the scope of the claims set out below.

1. A magneto-optical switching device for switching magnetization in amedium, comprising: a magnetizable medium; and a radiation system suitedfor imparting angular momentum to the magnetic spin system of saidmagnetizable medium, so as to selectively orient the magnetization ofsaid medium.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said radiationsystem comprises light having a helicity that is corresponding to aninformation state to be recorded.
 3. A device according to claim 1,wherein said radiation system is arranged to impart an intensity so thatan optically induced magnetic field via the inverse Faraday effect ishigher than a magnetic field strength required to switch magnetization.4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said radiation system isarranged to impart a thermal energy that is kept below Curie temperatureof the magnetizable domains.
 5. A device according to claim 1, whereinsaid radiation system is arranged to impart a thermal energy that issubstantially low so that a magnetic coercitiviy of the magnetic domainsis higher than a demagnetizing field of surrounding magnetic domains. 6.A device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises thermalabsorber materials arranged to provide a target temperature for magneticswitching.
 7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetizabledomains are comprised of a metallic rare earth—transition metal alloy.8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetizable domains arecomprised of a ferrimagnetic material.
 9. A device according to claim 1,wherein the magnetizable domains are comprised of an out of planemagnetization and an out of plane anisotropy axis.
 10. A deviceaccording to claim 9, wherein the magnetization of said magnetizabledomains is oriented at opposite directions depending on the angularmomentum of the radiation beam.
 11. A device according to claim 1,wherein the substrate comprises a base substrate layer, a heat sinklayer, and a magnetizable domain layer comprised in a buffer and/orcapping layer.
 12. A device according to claim 1, wherein themagnetizable domain layer comprises Gd Fe Co.
 13. A device according toclaim 11, wherein the base substrate layer comprises glass, wherein theheat sink layer comprises AlTi, and wherein the buffer layer comprisesSiN.
 14. A recording device for recording information “bits” as regionsof opposite magnetization or spins comprising a magneto-opticalswitching device for switching magnetization in a medium, themagneto-optical switching device comprising: a magnetizable medium; anda radiation system suited for imparting angular momentum to the magneticspin system of said magnetizable medium, so as to selectively orient themagnetization of said medium.
 15. A method of switching a magnetizablemedium, comprising: providing a magnetizable medium; providing aradiation beam of a selectively chosen angular momentum; and targetingsaid radiation beam to said medium so as to transfer said angularmomentum to a magnetic spin system of said magnetizable medium.
 16. Amethod according to claim 15, wherein said magnetizable medium is chosento have thermal properties, in conjunction with a radiation beamfluence, to elevate a target area to a temperature below the Curietemperature of the medium.
 17. A method according to claim 15, furthercomprising selectively choosing said angular momentum so as to representinformation to thereby record said information on said medium.
 18. Amethod according to claim 15, further comprising using a pulsedradiation beam.
 19. A method according to claim 18, wherein a pulseduration of said radiation beam ranges between 100 and 1 femtoseconds.20. A method according to claim 19, wherein a pulse duration of saidradiation beam is less than 40 femtoseconds.
 21. A method according toclaim 15 wherein the providing a magnetisable medium comprises providinga metallic rare earth—transition metal alloy as a magnetizable medium,and further comprising switching said medium for information recordingpurposes.
 22. A method according to claim 15 wherein the providing amagnetisable medium comprises providing a non-metallic magnetizablemedium, and further comprising switching said medium for opticaltransmission and switching purposes.